A HOTEL singer has achieved his dream of releasing an album after a chance meeting with Sir Paul McCartney led to an enduring friendship and musical collaboration.

After years performing in hotels around the world Glenn Aitken had given up hope of being discovered. But when Sir Paul McCartney took his thenbride Heather Mills for a romantic holiday in the Maldives Glenn had the opportunity to perform for him.

Sir Paul was so impressed he asked Glenn to sing while he had dinner with Heather under the stars. He then offered to help the 32-year-old find a deal and even offered to perform on Glenn's new album.

Seven years after they met at the Hilton Rangali Island hotel in the Indian Ocean Glenn admits he still finds it hard to believe what happened.

"How can you describe coming face to face with the star who inspired you and who is now telling you you've got the talent to be a star yourself?" says Aitken, 39, who lives in Fulham, South-west London.

The next day Glenn met Sir Paul, who asked him to perform for him over dinner

Glenn had been told a VIP was coming to stay but didn't know who it was until the ex-Beatle arrived. That night he was singing to hotel guests on the beach when Sir Paul and Heather strolled down and sat near the front.

The next day Glenn met Sir Paul, who asked him to perform for him over dinner.

Glenn played one of his own tracks called The Way and afterwards Sir Paul told him he could not get the track out of his head. Back in the UK McCartney sent personally-signed letters to record company executives along with a demo of Glenn's songs.

Spurred on by McCart ney's belief Glenn raised the money to produce an album, Extraordinary Lives, released by Right Recordings this week.

Sir Paul agreed to play on one of the tracks even though on the day he was due to record it he was at the High Court settling his divorce. "I didn't expect him to come because it was a stressful day but he did turn up.

"I was deeply touched that he came to the studio on such an emotional day and I am astonishingly lucky to have had his support."